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Erie woman hangs up apron after a decade of cooking for the less fortunate

Barb Olivarez helped prepare more than 143,000 meals during her stint as second cook

By John Aguilar Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
07/03/2013 03:45:54 PM MDT

Updated:
07/03/2013 03:47:25 PM MDT

Barb Olivarez, of Erie, working last week to prepare lunches for the Meals on Wheels program at the First United Methodist Church in Lafayette.
(
Jeremy Papasso
)

Coal Creek Meals on Wheels by the numbers

Individuals served since 1972: 3,200

Average number of meals per year through 2010: 13,000

Meals served in 2011: 15,380

Meals served in 2012: 16,146

Meals served in 2013, to date: 8,004

Source: Coal Creek Meals on Wheels

LAFAYETTE -- After helping to prepare more than 143,000 meals for hundreds of clients in east Boulder County over the last 10 years, Barb Olivarez is hanging up the apron as second cook at Coal Creek Meals on Wheels.

The 57-year-old Erie resident and native of Canada says it's time to start a new chapter in her life, which will still include caring for others -- just not with the culinary emphasis. Her final day in the kitchen was last Friday.

Despite Olivarez's modest assertion that "I don't think they'll notice" when she's gone, her influence on the menu selection at Coal Creek Meals on Wheels -- her signature apple green bean salad and beloved chocolaty/graham sweet Nanaimo bars -- will be remembered long after her departure.

Bruscoe said Olivarez came to Coal Creek Meals on Wheels as a volunteer 11 years ago and a year later assumed the position of second cook, where she puts most of her energies into the dessert and salad selections.

For the past 40 years, the organization has served more than 3,000 clients in Lafayette, Louisville, Superior and Erie -- many of whom struggle with medical, housing and utility expenses that don't leave much money for food.

"She's had a hand in every one of those 16,000-plus meals that went out last year," Bruscoe said. "It's not just a job to her -- she has invested a lot of time and energy to make it special."

Olivarez has made certain to get out from behind the prep table at First United Methodist Church in Lafayette, where the non-profit organization's meals are prepared, and meet the clients who rely on the free or subsidized service by delivering meals to their homes.

"Just knowing you're providing a good meal to a client -- it gives me a good feeling and is close to my heart," she said last week as she prepared one of her final desserts. "They're just dear people."

Beth Ward, a Meals on Wheels volunteer who worked alongside Olivarez for seven years, said her friend took the time to cater to every client's dietary need, whether they were vegetarian, diabetic or needed less salt in their food.

"Barb was deeply committed to the clients," she said. "She has been the heart of Meals on Wheels."

Olivarez said things seem to happen to her in 10-year increments. She spent a decade cooking for KFC in Canada, followed by 10 years spent in sales and the last 10 years dedicated to Coal Creek Meals on Wheels.

Her next move, she said, is to work with seniors in some capacity. But she said she won't be surprised to find herself drawn back to Meals on Wheels to volunteer in the kitchen or ferry a dozen meals across town.

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